Cardiothoracic Physician Assistant

Physician AssistantFull-Time

Listed compensation

$208k

The week · per this posting · weekdays assumed

Ask the employer about call expectations, weekend coverage, nights and shift pattern and time off.

Posted 41m ago · Verified live

Job Description

Join an award-winning team of dedicated professionals committed to our core values of quality, compassion and community! Saint Michael's Medical Center, a member of Prime Healthcare, offers incredible opportunities to expand your horizons and be part of a community dedicated to making a difference.

Established by the Franciscan Sisters of the Poor in 1867, Saint Michael's Medical Center is a 358-bed regional tertiary-care, teaching, and research center in the heart of Newark's business and educational district and is accredited by The Joint Commission. Combining state-of-the-art technology, the latest diagnostic and therapeutic procedures, leading-edge research, and a network of highly qualified physicians, nurses, and allied health professionals, the hospital provides top-quality health care services delivered with compassionate care.

The first medical institution in New Jersey to perform open-heart surgery, and the first to develop a cardiac catheterization program, Saint Michael's Medical Center is home to the Heart and Vascular Institute, which offers a comprehensive array of innovative cardiac treatments and procedures. Learn more at smmcnj.com.

Responsibilities

The Cardiothoracic Physician Assistant is responsible performing as First Assistant in the OR for Cardiothoracic cases. The CT PA must possess the surgical skills and experience necessary for open and endoscopic vein harvesting.

The CT PA must also be prepared to assist in the management of pre-operative and post-operative patients including but not limited to management of cardiac pacemakers, chest tubes, and critical care procedures.

Effectively interacts with patients, and other staff, while maintaining standards of professional services, medical care and attention to detail. The position also requires excellent internal and external communication and people skills and clinical skills (lab draws, vital, injections, etc.).

Qualifications

EDUCATION, EXPERIENCE, TRAINING 1. Current and valid PA License2. Current BLS (AHA) upon hire and maintain current.3. Bilingual preferred; but not required4. Minimum of three years experience as a Cardiothoracic PA

Pay Transparency

Saint Michaels Medical Center offers competitive compensation and a comprehensive benefits package that provides employees the flexibility to tailor benefits according to their individual needs.

Our Total Rewards package includes, but is not limited to, paid time off, a 401K retirement plan, medical, dental, and vision coverage, tuition reimbursement, and many more voluntary benefit options. Benefits may vary based on employment status, i. e. full-time, part-time, per diem or temporary.

A reasonable compensation estimate for this role, which includes estimated wages, benefits, and other forms of compensation, is $208,000.00 on an annualized basis.

The exact starting compensation to be offered will be determined at the time of selecting an applicant for hire, in which a wide range of factors will be considered, including but not limited to, skillset, years of applicable experience, education, credentials and licensure.

Employment Status: Full Time

Shift: Days

Equal Employment Opportunity

Company is an equal employment opportunity employer.

Company prohibits discrimination against any applicant or employee based on race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, national origin, age (subject to applicable law), disability, military status, genetic information or any other basis protected by applicable federal, state, or local laws.

The Company also prohibits harassment of applicants or employees based on any of these protected categories. Know Your Rights: eeoc.gov

Qualifications

Education
Professional certificate or licensure
Experience
2+ years of experience

Key Skills

Cardiothoracic surgeryOpen vein harvestingPatient managementCardiac pacemaker managementChest tube managementVital signs monitoringClinical documentationCommunication skills

Cardiothoracic Surgery — Physician Assistant Career Context

Of the 50 active Physician Assistant listings this role was benchmarked against, 8% are remote, 70% have no call, 68% require no weekends.

The cost-of-living index for New Jersey is 108.8 (US average = 100; BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)), so the posted ~$208k midpoint carries the purchasing power of roughly $191k in an average-cost state. 63.8% of New Jersey clinicians report burnout symptoms in WeekdayDoc's Burnout Index (2026-01 data).

What does the Physician Assistant market look like in New Jersey?
MeasureThis jobMarket
Listed pay$208kPhysician Assistant median $128k (middle half $110k–$155k)43 comparable listings, Nov 2026
Cost-of-living adjusted pay~$191k in purchasing powerNew Jersey index 108.8 (US = 100)BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)
All physician assistant listings in New Jersey81 active3,053 nationallylive on WeekdayDoc, Nov 2026
Work settingon-sitepeers: 8% remote · 70% no call · 68% no weekends50 benchmarked listings
Sign-on & loan repaymentnot statedUS physician assistant listings (all specialties): 19% state a sign-on bonus (median $15k) · 8% offer loan repayment1,000 active listings, Nov 2026
Physician Assistant pay trend (all specialties)+4.6% vs prior quarter—through Oct 2026
Sources: WeekdayDoc live listing index, BEA Regional Price Parities (2024); as of Nov 2026. Same values as the Weekday Verdict and Market Insights on this page. New Jersey figures use all physician assistants: too few New Jersey Cardiothoracic Surgery postings state pay.

Top Physician Assistant Jobs

29 matches · ranked by pay

Salary Distribution

29 jobs · 21 employers
10
<$155k
4
$155k-185k
11
$185k-215k
3
$215k-245k
1
$312k

Annual compensation range

Benefits & Perks

28 jobs · 21 employers
401k / retirement match
89% this job
CME allowance
61%
Sign-on bonus
54%
Relocation assistance
32%
Loan repayment
25%

Share of similar jobs offering each benefit

#1

Advanced Practice Provider - Behavioral Health (PRN/Flex)Per Diem

Sentara Health · Harrisonburg, Virginia

$108k-$312k
#2

Physician AssistantContract

Akicita Federal · Rosebud, South Dakota

$229k-$239k
#3

Outpatient Advanced Practice Provider (APP), Nurse Practitioner or Physician Assistant/Associates

$172k-$229k
#4

Advanced Practice Provider (APP), Nurse Practitioner or Physician Assistant/Associate

$172k-$229k
+ 27 more · ranked by pay

Work-life snapshot

median 4.2this job 1.5
Below most Physician Assistant roles listings for work-life

Listing-based score, 0–10, across 3,016 comparable listings. Shaded area = the share scoring below this one.

  • On-site
Saint Michaels Medical Center logo

About Saint Michaels Medical Center

Hospitals and Health Care
Newark, N.J.

Benefits & Perks

Competitive Compensation
Paid Time Off
401K Retirement Plan
Medical, Dental, Vision Coverage
Tuition Reimbursement
Voluntary Benefit Options
Collaborative Practice Agreement Required

Living in Newark

Typical 3-bedroom home value
$450k≈ 2.2× annual pay
Typical market rent
$2,111/mo≈ 12% of gross pay
Residents’ average commute
33 min
State income tax
Up to 10.8%
Sources & methodology

Sources: Zillow home values (Sep 2026), Zillow market rents (Sep 2026), U.S. Census ACS 2024 five-year.

Ratios use this listing’s gross annual pay. Not a cost-of-living guarantee.